This rendering shows a proposal to convert the Higley House, located at 860 17th St. SE in Cedar Rapids, into a residential rehabilitation home for people seeking treatment for substance use problems. (Cedar Rapids)
The Cedar Rapids City Council last week moved forward with a request to rezone Higley Mansion, which had been operated as a senior citizen facility, so it could be converted into a residential rehabilitation home that would provide independent treatment to people struggling with substance use problems. Ta.
The site at 860 17th St. SE has been vacant for several years and will be used as a 35- to 45-bed residential inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment facility. It will be operated by Covenant Family Solutions, which is affiliated with Mental Health Services.
This property will be rezoned from a traditional residential flex district to a traditional residential luxury district.
Conditional use approval from the Board of Adjustment is still required and will be considered at the Board of Adjustment meeting May 16 at 4 p.m. The City Council will also need to approve two more rezonings, likely at its noon meeting May 14. Both meetings will be held in the council chambers of City Hall, located at 101 First St. SE.
“It's great to see this and to see that at least the community seems to be supportive of this,” said City Councilor Ashley Vanoney. “…Having resources like this at home means more Cedar Rapidians can get the help they need and succeed because it’s right in their home.”
If approved, it is expected to open in the spring or summer of 2025.
“This is an important service to our community, and I think we have a partner who will bring this together and enhance the services available to our community, but at the same time, we'll be bringing back a very unique complex.” We will protect lives,” said City Councilman Scott Olson.
Marion Farmers Market begins Saturday
The Marion Farmers Market reopens for the season Saturday at Taub Park, 2200 31st St. in Marion. Open every Saturday from 8am to 11am until September 28th.
The first market will feature more than 30 vendors, including those enrolled in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Linn County Master Gardeners.
Shoppers can find fresh produce, baked goods, meat, flowers, honey, jewelry, woodwork and crafts at the market, which will also be joined this year by chocolate and wine vendors.
Marion City Council members will spend their weekly office hours at the market. Every Saturday, during market hours, she is available for one or more council members to answer questions and have a conversation.
The first Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market will be held on Saturday, May 25th from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
Visitors stroll through the Noel Ridge Conservatory on Mother's Day 2018. The annual Mother's Day Showcase will be held at his greenhouse located at 4900 Council St. NE in Cedar Rapids on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. (Official Gazette)
Noel Ridge Conservatory holds annual Mother's Day Showcase
The annual Mother's Day Showcase will be held at the Noel Ridge Conservatory, 4900 Council St. NE, on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
This year, 60,000 plants are waiting for visitors. Also on display will be exhibits and information about orchids, Master Gardeners, and the Hershberger Hosta Society.
Visitors can purchase hanging baskets, coleus, New Guinea impatiens, native plants, perennials, ornamentals, orchids, and more. Bird feeders, garden labels, whimsical gourds and handmade pressed flower cards will also be on sale.
If you are interested in volunteering at the greenhouse, please contact a member of the Friends of Noel Ridge. The group will also be selling fairy gardens, cactus cocktails and succulent sundaes to raise funds to benefit the greenhouse.
Cedar Rapids is recognized as a Tree City USA
The City of Cedar Rapids was honored as the 2023 Tree City USA at the 33rd Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Ankeny. This is his 46th consecutive award for the city, longer than any other city in Iowa.
The Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources presented the award on April 4 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.
This award recognizes a city's commitment to a vibrant community tree canopy. To qualify, a community must have a city tree department or an active city tree committee. Tree ordinance. Spend at least $2 per person each year on community forestry programs. A tree planting and maintenance plan is in place.
The public house will be held at the Iowa City Wastewater Treatment Plant, 4366 Napoleon St. SE, on May 18th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (Iowa City)
Iowa City holds open house at wastewater treatment plant
Iowa City's annual public works open house will be held at the city's wastewater treatment facility, 4366 Napoleon St. SE, on Saturday, May 18th from 1-3 p.m.
The event will include facility tours, refreshments, educational opportunities, games, and more.
Iowa City sewer officials manage 330 miles of sewer lines that process approximately 7.17 million gallons of wastewater each day. The open house provides a glimpse into how this often-neglected service continues uninterrupted throughout the year.
Those wishing to participate should enter the facility off Sand Road SE and Napoleon Street and follow signs directing visitors down Soccer Park Road. Our facility is adjacent to Kickers Soccer Park, where soccer games will be held during the tournament, and there is ample parking within the facility.
Iowa City seeks sculptures for public display
Iowa City's Public Art Advisory Committee is offering Iowa sculptors the opportunity to exhibit their work in the city for two years.
The temporary exhibit will run from August 7 of this year until July 2026 and will be located at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, along the Iowa River Trail, and at pads at Riverfront Crossing Park, Mercer Park, and Scott Park. will be installed.
The Art Advisory Committee reviews and selects submissions and determines the placement of each.
Proposed sculptures will be evaluated for artistic value, creativity, public safety, appropriateness for the site, and durability outdoors and in front of an unsupervised public audience. The piece must be able to be securely installed on a 4 x 4 foot cement pad.
We cannot accept works that are unstable, fragile, dangerous, inappropriate, small or lightweight.
Artists will receive a $2,250 honorarium for two years of exhibition. Her deadline for submission is May 17, 2024. More information and an online submission form can be found at www.icgov.org/publicart. Questions should be directed to Rachel Kilburg Varley at (319) 356-5248.
Cedar Rapids schools receive Iowa Department of Education grant
Cedar Rapids Community School District is one of 20 school districts in Iowa to receive CAREER grants from the Iowa Department of Education.
This grant was developed to help school districts create or enhance career and technical education programs to help high school students earn industry-recognized credentials and certifications before graduation.
This grant is in line with the Cedar Rapids School District's new strategic plan to prepare students for life after graduation.
The district will receive $281,776 through the grant for the 2024-25 school year. The funds will be used to purchase equipment for the high school's industrial technology program.
This equipment will enable students to earn industry certifications in precision measurement equipment, hand tool identification, safety and electrical installation, increasing their employability.
An open day to the public is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Arthur Elementary School, 2360 B Avenue NE in Cedar Rapids, as the school prepares to close at the end of this school year. Students from Arthur Elementary School and Garfield Elementary School will attend the new Trailside Elementary School being built near Arthur this fall. (Official Gazette)
An open day to the public is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Garfield Elementary School, 1201 Maplewood Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, as the school prepares to close at the end of this school year. Students from Garfield Elementary School and Arthur Elementary School will attend the new Trailside Elementary School located at 2360 B Avenue NE this fall. (Official Gazette)
Arthur and Garfield Elementary School Open House
The public is invited to open houses at Arthur and Garfield Elementary Schools from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday to commemorate their final years as Cedar Rapids School District schools.
The student bodies from each school will be combined and relocated to the new Trailside Elementary School, 2630 B Ave. NE, scheduled to open in August.
Arthur Elementary School (2630 B Ave. NE) and Garfield Elementary School (1201 Maplewood Dr. NE) will be repurposed with community input.
The school closure and opening of Trailside Elementary School are part of the 2018 Facilities Master Plan. Under the plan, the district also built West Willow Elementary School to replace Coolidge Elementary School, opening in August 2021. Maple Grove Elementary School opened in August 2022, replacing Jackson Elementary School.
Each of the new elementary schools will have an enrollment of 500 to 600 students. Currently, the number of students in the elementary school varies from his 200 to 500 students.
Elementary school improvements will be funded by Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE), a statewide school infrastructure sales and services tax.
The Government Note is published on Monday and includes the latest information from government agencies in the region. Contributed by Gazette reporters Marissa Payne and Grace King.
